The Excelsior Scholarship

The Excelsior Scholarship Program:

Tuition: The undergraduate in-state tuition charged to recipients of The Excelsior Scholarship cannot exceed the tuition rate for the 2016-17 academic year ($6,470).

Income: As with the 2017-18 FAFSA and TAP application, Prior-Prior year (PPY) 2015 adjusted gross income (AGI) will be used.

Adjusted Gross Income (AGI) Thresholds:

2017-18: $100,000 (2015 AGI)

2018-19: $110,000 (2016 AGI)

2019-20: $125,000 and thereafter (2017 AGI)

Application Process: The New York State Higher Education Services Corporation in Albany (HESC) is developing an application vehicle for The Excelsior Scholarship. Students applying for this scholarship must complete the FAFSA and TAP applications.

HESC anticipates applications will be available in late May with an expected deadline for submission in late July.

Verification of AGI: HESC will be verifying 2015 AGI through the NYS Tax and Finance Department.

Application of Other Financial Aid Award Programs: Pell, TAP, and the SUNY Tuition Credit along with Fredonia scholarships must be applied first. The Excelsior Scholarship is a last dollar scholarship which means all federal, state, and institutional grants and scholarships will reduce the annual amount of the award.

GPA and Earned Credits: According to HESC, recipients must earn a passing grade in their coursework to maintain the scholarship.

Recipients must complete a total of 30 credit hours over the course of an academic year. In addition, students must be enrolled for a minimum of 12 credits per semester. Recipients may use intersessions and summer terms in accumulating the 30 credits within the academic year.

Duration of Award; allowable interruptions and deferments of post graduated requirements: The awards are limited to the length of the program (2 year, 4 year, approved 5 yr). HESC will define allowable interruptions and deferments of post graduation requirements in regulation. The law allows for interruptions including but not limited to a death of a family member, medical leave, military service and parental leave. HESC has indicated postgraduate deferrals for residing in NYS will include military service and graduate school. Applicants cannot receive an excelsior award of they already have a bachelor degree and cannot receive a second associates if they already have an associate degree.

NYS Residency: Applicants must be a NYS resident to be eligible for the scholarship.

Post Graduation Residency: The student is required to reside in NYS for the same number of years in which they received the award. The student does not need to be employed during this period, however they cannot be employed in another state.

Citizenship: The Excelsior Scholarship program falls under the general award rule. As such, applicants must meet the same requirements for citizenship as for TAP.

Loan Information: The scholarship only reverts to a loan when a student does not fulfill the post graduation residency requirement. The scholarship does not revert to a loan if the student becomes ineligible and loses the scholarship during their undergraduate work prior to graduation.

Regaining eligibility: A student cannot regain eligibility if they lose the scholarship during their undergraduate study. There are some allowable interruptions listed in the statute and we anticipate more information will be detailed in regulation.

A. An Excelsior Scholarship recipient can receive up to $5,500 from the Excelsior Scholarship, minus any amounts received for TAP, Pell or other scholarships. The remainder of your tuition charge will be covered through a tuition credit paid through SUNY or CUNY.

A. For the 2017-18 academic year, your 2015 federal household adjusted gross income can total up to $100,000 to be eligible. For 2018-19, that amount increases to $110,000 (using 2016 AGI), and beginning in 2019-20 and beyond, your family’s adjusted gross income can total up to $125,000 (using 2017 AGI).

A. You are eligible to get an award for up to two years for students pursuing an associate’s degree and up to four years for students pursuing a bachelor’s degree. Students in an undergraduate program of study normally requiring five years are eligible to receive the award for five years.

A. You can lose the scholarship if you do not continue to meet all eligibility requirements. For example, you must enroll in at least 12 credits per term and complete 30 credits per year to continue to receive the scholarship.

A. Yes. You must live in New York State for the number of years equal to awards you received. For example, if you received four Excelsior Scholarship awards while getting your bachelor’s degree, you must live in New York State for four years after college. In addition, if you are working during those years, you must work in New York State.

Failure to meet these requirements will result in the conversion of your award to a loan.

A. Eligibility will be reviewed every semester. If you do not pass 30 credit hours each year you will lose the Excelsior Scholarship and may not be able to reinstate it. After graduation, you must live and be employed (if working) in New York State for at least as many years as you received the scholarship. If you do not meet the New York State residency requirement for as many years as you received the Excelsior Scholarship, it becomes a loan which you will then be required to pay back.

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